Title-winning Melbourne City coach Rado Vidosic says the A-League Women season must be extended and a women's FFA Cup introduced in order to help grow the game and improve the fortunes of the Matildas.
Vidosic, who led Melbourne City to the W-League Championship/Premiership double in 2020, believes too much Australian talent is being lured overseas to merely sit on the bench.
Instead, Vidosic wants to see the current 14-round ALW season vastly extended, as well as each club has its own women's academy.
"We need to make this ALW competition full time," Vidosic said ahead of Melbourne City's clash with Adelaide at AAMI Park on Saturday.
"We need to extend the season. They need to train professionally all year. That is step one.
"At the same time, we can make the step two which is the (FFA) Cup.
"Not just for women, I think we need a cup for under 18s."
Some of Australia's finest talents, such as Chelsea's Sam Kerr, are currently thriving overseas.
But there are a host of other Australia players who are stuck predominantly on the bench in overseas leagues.
Vidosic feels the world No.11 Matildas would become an even more powerful force if the A-League Women competition became more professional.
"For me, this is not working, sending 18, 19-year-old girls overseas, and they don't play and just sit on the bench," Vidosic said.
"There's a lot of girls who are playing overseas who would love to come back home and play for their home town.
"In England, not many English players are playing outside the Super League.
"In America, not many American players are playing outside the United States.
"So if you want to have a good national team, you must have a good domestic competition.
"When you look at what (FFA chief executive) James Johnson said, his aim is make the W-League (one of) the top five leagues in the world, which I believe we can do."
Central Coast and Western United will join the ALW next season, transforming it into a 12-team competition.
City will be aiming to bounce back from last week's 2-1 loss to Melbourne Victory when they take on the sixth-placed Adelaide, who beat Canberra 2-1.
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